PROPOSAL FOR GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE APPROVAL
Department: School of Journalism and Electronic Media
Course Number and Title: 450: Writing about Science and Medicine
(formerly Journalism 450: Writing about Science, Technology, and Medicine)
Frequency of Course Offering: usually once a year
(per course & total if multiple sections)
Course Capacity per Semester: 18
Contact Name, Phone, Email: Mark Littmann, Ph.D.
Professor, Hill Chair of Excellence in Science Writing
974-8156 littmann@utk.edu
 How do the course goals meet the “Communicating through Writing” General Education requirement
(Note: English 101 and 102 prerequisites required)?
English 101 and 102 or their equivalents or writing courses beyond English 101 and 102 are required.

How will the 5,000-word requirement be accomplished (describe the mix of formal and informal writing assignments and activities in the class)?
1 “fascinating scientific facts” article of about 500 words (but no maximum word limit)
1 “scientific wonders in everyday life” article of about 750 words
1 article covering a simulated press conference of about 750 words
1 article involving an extensive interview on a scientific subject of the writer’s choice – about 750 words
2 informal in-class writing assignments – about 300 words each
1 revision of an assigned article for an improved grade and/or to prepare for publication – 500-750 words
1 short “note to editor” about intended final article – about 150 words
1 query letter for an article to be written – about 300 words
1 excerpt from the final feature story prior to its completion for the class to respond to – about 200 words
1 longer feature story of about 1,500 words optional: one or more articles for extra credit of any length

How will the class integrate writing as a vital component (e.g. class time devoted to explicit writing instruction; regular opportunities for writing distributed throughout the semester; opportunities for feedback on writing; emphasis on the writing process, from identifying areas for inquiry and researching an issue to drafting and revising papers)?
Writing about Science and Medicine is explicitly a nonfiction creative writing course whose subject is presenting science, technology, and medicine to a nonscientific audience. Everything in the course is instruction and exercises in writing popular science for lay readers. The instruction includes lectures and class discussion. Portions of some class periods are devoted to talks by scientists, engineers, or physicians about their research, so that the students gain experience in gathering information from presentations and from interviewing (asking questions of) the scientists. Other scientists, engineers, or

physicians talk to the class about the nature of science and their interactions with the news media, helping student science writers understand better how science works, how scientists think, and how to get the most interesting and accurate stories from scientists. Portions of other class periods are devoted to visits from other science writers, who discuss how they go about researching and writing stories, how they get published, and experiences they have had in science writing. Portions of many class periods are devoted to discussing and criticizing exemplary (and occasionally seriously flawed) published science stories and also critiquing work that students have written for the class if the author is willing or has requested that the class critique the work. Portions of at least two class periods are devoted to in-class writing assignments on subjects not previously announced.

What percentage of the course grade will be based on written work? (Note: Passing work on writing assignments should be essential to students’ success in the course.) If the work in this course is graded by someone other than the instructor (or is shared by instructor and teaching assistant), please explain how written work will be evaluated.
All written work in Writing about Science and Medicine is evaluated by the instructor. Eighty percent of the final grade is determined by this written work. Of the remaining 20% of the grade, 10% comes from participation in class discussions (because student insights benefit everyone) and 10% from presenting an introduction and leading a class discussion of an assigned article.

What process is used to monitor/oversee this course if multiple sections are taught to ensure consistency from section to section and from semester to semester?
Not applicable.

Please attach the course syllabus (including course description) and a sample writing assignment.
Attached.